Co-stars Alex O'Loughlin ('Hawaii Five-O') and Patrick Thompson are credited with the story concept for this fairly entertaining gross-out fare. Thompson stars as Phillip Jackson, a cybercrimes investigator who gets wind of people like Michael Carter (O'Loughlin), who take women and then feed them and feed them until they're bedridden and completely dependent on their captors. Meanwhile, websites are set up where people can check on the victims' progress, and make bets as to how fat they will get and how soon they will die. Jackson travels from Sydney, Australia to Toledo in the States to try to stop the maniac, even though he is way out of his jurisdiction.
"Feed" works fairly well on a visceral, gut wrenching level, although it's going to be hard for some people to watch. Not always terribly coherent, or credible, it also suffers from a "hero" who's simply not very good at his job. Nevertheless, it's gripping in its own sordid way. The performances are generally good, although the filmmaking tends to fall back on that standard herky-jerky editing too often. There are also some appropriate soundtrack choices. The effects are pretty damn gross sometimes. Judging by the opening text, it seems as if director Brett Leonard (of "The Lawnmower Man" fame) and company are using the story as something in which to wrap a commentary on the excessively poor eating habits of North Americans, as well as body image. There is a little bit of food for thought here, if one will pardon the expression.
O'Loughlin is sufficiently creepy, and Thompson pretty intense. Gabby Millgate does an okay job as the not very grateful victim of the piece. Thompsons' father, Aussie icon Jack Thompson, co-stars in the role of his boss.
The ending is sure to be satisfying to some in the audience.
Six out of 10.
"Feed" works fairly well on a visceral, gut wrenching level, although it's going to be hard for some people to watch. Not always terribly coherent, or credible, it also suffers from a "hero" who's simply not very good at his job. Nevertheless, it's gripping in its own sordid way. The performances are generally good, although the filmmaking tends to fall back on that standard herky-jerky editing too often. There are also some appropriate soundtrack choices. The effects are pretty damn gross sometimes. Judging by the opening text, it seems as if director Brett Leonard (of "The Lawnmower Man" fame) and company are using the story as something in which to wrap a commentary on the excessively poor eating habits of North Americans, as well as body image. There is a little bit of food for thought here, if one will pardon the expression.
O'Loughlin is sufficiently creepy, and Thompson pretty intense. Gabby Millgate does an okay job as the not very grateful victim of the piece. Thompsons' father, Aussie icon Jack Thompson, co-stars in the role of his boss.
The ending is sure to be satisfying to some in the audience.
Six out of 10.